Association of autoimmune diseases with the occurrence of osteoarthritis: a gene expression and Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies have indicated a potential association between autoimmune diseases and the occurrence of Osteoarthritis (OA), with an increased risk of mortality among affected patients. However, whether a causal relationship exists between the two remains unknown.

Methods: In the Mendelian randomization (MR) study, we accessed exposure Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from both the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) and the FinnGen consortium.

Moxibustion attenuates inflammation and alleviates axial spondyloarthritis in mice: Possible role of APOE in the inhibition of the Wnt pathway.

Background And Aim: Moxibustion is widely used in China and other East Asian countries to manage the symptom of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study investigated the effects of moxibustion intervention on protein expression through proteomics analysis in AS mice.

Experimental Procedure: Proteoglycan-induced spondylitis (PGISp) was established in Balb/c mice.

Octylphenol influence growth and development of Rana chensinensis tadpoles via disrupting thyroid function.

Octylphenol (OP), a class of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), could produce adverse effects on developmental process of animals. Thyroid hormone is one of the important hormones involved in animal development. To determine whether OP affect the growth and development of amphibian larvae via interfering the thyroid function, Rana chensinensis larvae at Gosner stage 29 were exposed to 10, 10 and 10 mol/L OP in the present study.

Oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity of Rana chensinensis exposed to low doses of octylphenol.

This study investigated the effects of low doses of octylphenol (OP) on the oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in amphibian liver. The frog, Rana chensinensis, were exposed to 10, 10, 10 mol/L OP for 10, 20 and 30 days. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver were reduced at first, then recovered slightly, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (HO) were increased significantly.

[Impact of Human Activities on Net Anthropogenic Nitrogen Inputs (NANI) at Township Scale in Erhai Lake Basin].

Excessive nitrogen inputs from human activities have become the main cause of water eutrophication and related ecological hazards. In order to study the impact of human activities on nitrogen in the basin, and based on statistical data of administrative units in 16 towns and villages, this study used the NANI model to calculate net anthropogenic nitrogen inputs (NANI) at township scale in Erhai Lake basin. Results show that the total amount of NANI in Erhai Lake basin was 29.

[Characteristics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration Dynamics in Natural Ditches Under an Irrigation-Drainage Unit in the Jianghan Plain].

The paddy field in Jianghan Plain usually exists in the form of an irrigation-drainage unit, and the natural ditch is the main part of the unit. A continuous in situ monitoring of the natural ditch water level and water quality through the entire rice growing season in 2015 was conducted to investigate the dynamics of ditch water level and nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in the ditch. Another objective was to determine the effect of these factors.

DHPAC, a novel synthetic microtubule destabilizing agent, possess high anti-tumor activity in vincristine-resistant oral epidermoid carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of major obstacles to effective chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. This study showed that DHPAC, 2-(6-ethoxy-3-(3-ethoxyphenylamino) -1-methyl-1,4-dihydroindeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-7-yloxy) acetamide, a novel compound that binds to the same site on microtubules as colchicine, has high anti-tumour activity in vincristine-resistant oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB/V) cells. It found that the presence of DHPAC strongly inhibited KB/V cell growth in vivo and in mice xenograft.

The anti-inflammatory effects of Morin hydrate in atherosclerosis is associated with autophagy induction through cAMP signaling.

Scope: Although the previous trials of inflammation have indicated that morin hydrate (MO) hold considerable promise, understanding the distinct mechanism of MO against inflammation remains a challenge.

Methods And Results: This study investigated the effect of MO in atherosclerosis in ApoE mice and underlying cell signaling of MO effect in inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Administration of MO significantly reduced serum lipid level, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and ICAM-1), and atherosclerotic plaque formation in vivo.

Rosiglitazone elevates sensitization of drug-resistant oral epidermoid carcinoma cells to vincristine by G2/M-phase arrest, independent of PPAR-γ pathway.

Rosiglitazone (ROSI), an oral antidiabetic agent, has been reported the anti-cancer properties recent years. In this paper, the potency of ROSI as a synergistic drug for vincristine (VCR) on resistant oral cancer cells was investigated. We found that ROSI potently enhanced the susceptibility of KB cells or KB/V cells to VCR in a dose manner and the synergy in KB/V cells was much more prominent than that in KB cells.

Free perforating branch flap for primary repairing the huge soft-tissue defects on the scalp and face.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of free perforating branch flap on the reconstruction of huge soft-tissue defects on the scalp and face.

Methods: Sixteen cases of huge soft-tissue defects on the scalp and face were reconstructed by nine latissimus dorsi-free perforator flaps and seven anterolateral thigh-free perforator flaps. The defects area was from 12 cm× 7 cm to 20 cm × 11 cm, while the flaps area was from 14 cm × 8 cm to 23 cm × 12 cm.

Anaerobic biodegradation of PAHs in mangrove sediment with amendment of NaHCO3.

Mangrove sediment is unique in chemical and biological properties. Many of them suffer polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. However, the study on PAH biological remediation for mangrove sediment is deficient.

Preparation and properties of plasma electrolytic oxidation coating on sandblasted pure titanium by a combination treatment.

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is one of the most applicable methods to produce bioceramic coating on a dental implant and sandblasting is a primary technique to modify metal surface properties. This study aims to deposit bioceramic Ca- and P-containing coatings on sandblasted commercially pure titanium by PEO technique to improve its bioactive performance. The time-dependent modified surfaces are characterized in terms of their microstructure, phase, chemical composition, mechanical properties and bioactivities.

DLJ14, a novel chemo-sensitization agent, enhances therapeutic effects of adriamycin against MCF-7/A cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Objectives: We investigated the chemo-sensitization of a ligustrazine derivate, (E)-2-(2, 4-dimethoxystyryl)-3, 5, 6-trimethylpyrazine (DLJ14) on Adriamycin (Adr, Wanle, Shenzhen, China)-resistant human breast cancer (MCF-7/A) cells both in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: The antitumour effects of DLJ14 and Adr was observed in MCF-7/A cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in vitro and was evaluated by MCF-7/A xenografts in nude mice. The intracellular Adr accumulation was assessed by mean fluorescence intensity of Adr.

Effect of inoculation with Penicillium expansum on the microbial community and maturity of compost.

Compost prepared from wheat straw and cattle/chicken mature was inoculated with the lignocellulolytic fungus, Penicillium expansum. Compared to uninoculated compost, the inoculated compost exhibited a 150% higher germination index, more than 1.2 g kg(-1)-dw of changes in NH(4)(+)-N concentrations, a ca.

[Characteristics of patients and their medical cost on 14,398 hospitalized patients suffered form hepatitis B, from a hospital of infectious diseases located in Beijing].

Objective: This article was to focus on the study of patient's profile, type and distribution of the disease and the related factors contributing to medical cost on 14 398 cases of hospitalized patients with hepatitis B from a hospital of infectious diseases located in Beijing, in order to provide basic information on optimizing the prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods: Information on hospital admission of patients with hepatitis B was collected and SPSS 16.0 statistics software package was used to analyze the profile, disease patterns distribution, structure of medical costs and main contributors related to medical costs.

Effects of rhamnolipid on the cellulase and xylanase in hydrolysis of wheat straw.

The effects of biosurfactant rhamnolipid (RL) and chemical surfactant Triton X-100 on the production of cellulases and xylanase from Penicillium expansum (P. expansum) in untreated, acid- and alkali-pretreated wheat straw submerged fermentations were studied, and the influences on the activity and stability of Cellulase R-10 were also investigated. The results showed that RL and Triton X-100 enhanced the activities of cellulases and xylanase to different extents and the stimulatory effects of RL were superior to those of Triton X-100.

[Effects of cadmium on metamorphism and gonad differentiation in Rana chensinensis].

200 tadpoles of Rana chensinensis at stage 26 - 27 were exposed to 0.05, 0.1, 0.

Design of the anti-tuberculosis drugs induced adverse reactions in China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme Study (ADACS).

Background: More than 1 million tuberculosis (TB) patients are receiving the standard anti-TB treatment provided by China National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Scheme (CNTS) in China every year. Adverse reactions (ADRs) induced by anti-TB drugs could both do harm to patients and lead to anti-TB treatment failure. The ADACS aimed to explore ADRs' incidences, prognoses, economical and public health impacts for TB patients and TB control, and build a DNA bank of TB patients.

HLA-DQ, DR allele polymorphism of type 1 diabetes in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a multifactorial disease. This article aims to evaluate the relationship between allele polymorphism of HLA-DQ, DR and T1D in the Chinese population.

Methods: The odds ratios (ORs) of HLA-DQ, DR allele distributions in patients with T1D were analyzed against healthy controls.

[Using diagnosis relative groups mortality risk classification to assess medical quality].

Objective: To introduce diagnosis related groups to assess the medical quality and try to establish an effective quality evaluation approach.

Methods: Using Australia-Refined Diagnosis Related Groups, version 5.0 (AR-DRGs v5.